Hamas today signed an agreement with The Palestinian Authority to join the International Criminal Court, reports The Guardian.
The decision could leave several senior Hamas officials at risk of prosecution at the court. The Hamas decision to back the Palestinian bid to join the ICC comes after Hamas leaders met with the Palestinian authority in Qatar last week.
"Hamas signed the document which president Mahmoud put forth as a condition that all factions approve, before he goes to sign the Rome Statute, which paves the way for Palestine's membership in the ICC" the Hamas deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouq wrote on his Facebook Page.
The Palestinian Authority President, Mohmoud Abbas is expected to wait for the findings of a UN commission of inquiry into possible war crimes in Gaza, which is due in March, before submitting the formal application to join the ICC.
The decision could leave several senior Hamas officials at risk of prosecution at the court. The Hamas decision to back the Palestinian bid to join the ICC comes after Hamas leaders met with the Palestinian authority in Qatar last week.
"Hamas signed the document which president Mahmoud put forth as a condition that all factions approve, before he goes to sign the Rome Statute, which paves the way for Palestine's membership in the ICC" the Hamas deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouq wrote on his Facebook Page.
The Palestinian Authority President, Mohmoud Abbas is expected to wait for the findings of a UN commission of inquiry into possible war crimes in Gaza, which is due in March, before submitting the formal application to join the ICC.